Release Detail

October 28, 1998 - Vacco Holds Lead Over Spitzer In A.G. Race,
Quinnipiac College Poll Finds;
Pataki Continues To Roll Up Big Number In Reelect Bid

Republican incumbent Attorney General Dennis Vacco leads Democratic challenger Eliot
Spitzer 47 - 34 percent among New York State likely voters, with 18 percent undecided,
according to a Quinnipiac College Poll released today.

In an October 15 poll by the independent Quinnipiac College, Vacco was ahead 45 - 33
percent among likely voters.

The race for Governor remains frozen, with Republican incumbent George Pataki
holding a 57 - 24 percent lead over Democratic challenger Peter Vallone among likely voters,
with 10 percent for Independence Party candidate Thomas Golisano and 3 percent for Liberal
Party candidate Betsy McCaughey Ross. These numbers are virtually unchanged from
September 27 and October 15 Quinnipiac College polls.

If Pataki and Vallone were the only candidates running for Governor, Pataki would win
65 - 30 percent among likely voters.

"Usually, candidates lose `job performance' points and favorability in the campaign
hammering of an election year. Not Gov. Pataki. He's close to his peak rating and his election
numbers against Vallone continue to look like a blowout," said Maurice Carroll, director of the
Quinnipiac College Polling Institute.

"The numbers don't move in the Governor's race. They just wiggle."

"New Yorkers don't dislike Vallone. They just don't have a reason to choose him over a
popular incumbent," Carroll said. "And one week before the election, 52 percent of New
York's registered voters don't know enough about Vallone to form an opinion."

"The Attorney General's race, over-shadowed by the red hot race for U.S. Senate and
the Governor's race, has drawn little voter interest. So they're sticking with the incumbent.
We still must keep an eye on that big 18 percent undecided.

"In this race, 50 percent of voters don't know enough about Vacco and 66 percent don't
know enough about Spitzer to form an opinion."

Pataki gets a 64 - 25 percent approval rating among registered voters. By a 55 - 18
percent margin, New York voters have a favorable opinion of Pataki, with 22 percent mixed
and 4 percent who say they haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

"New York has a habit of electing comptrollers and governors from opposite parties, and
we're seeing that habit in huge margins for the two incumbents," Carroll said.

"When the incumbents all get reelected, taxpayers save big bucks because they don't
have to print new stationary or re-paint all those highway construction signs."

From October 20 -25, Quinnipiac College surveyed 1,065 New York State registered
voters, including 547 likely voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent for
registered voters and 4.2 percent for likely voters. The Quinnipiac College Poll, directed by
Douglas Schwartz, conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
as a public service and for research.
For additional data: www.quinnipiac.edu

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling his job
as Governor of New York?

Oct 15
Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind 1998

Approve 64% 69% 54% 68% 86% 45% 66% 63%

Disapprove 25 20 35 23 7 41 24 26

DK/NA 11 11 11 9 8 14 10 11

5. How much attention have you been paying to this year's campaigns for Governor
and United States Senator? A lot, some, only a little, or none at all?

Oct 15
Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind 1998

A lot 31% 30% 31% 32% 28% 30% 34% 27%

Some 39 39 39 40 44 42 35 43

Only a little 23 25 22 20 22 21 23 23

None at all 6 6 8 5 5 6 7 7

DK/NA 1 - - 2 - 1 1 -

6. Is your opinion of George Pataki favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't
you heard enough about him?

10. If the 1998 election for Governor were being held today, would you vote
for Peter Vallone the Democratic candidate, George Pataki the Republican
candidate, Betsy McCaughey Ross the Liberal party candidate, or Thomas
Golisano the Independence party candidate?

Oct 15
Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind 1998

Peter Vallone 22% 10% 38% 20% 3% 48% 16% 25%

George Pataki 55 61 42 62 86 28 56 50

Betsy McCaughey
Ross 3 3 3 4 2 4 3 6

Tom Golisano 10 16 5 6 5 9 13 9

SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 - - 1 1 1

WON'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 2 1 - 1 2 2

DK/NA 8 8 9 8 4 9 8 8

10. If the 1998 election for Governor were being held today, would you vote
for Peter Vallone the Democratic candidate, George Pataki the Republican
candidate, Betsy McCaughey Ross the Liberal party candidate, or Thomas
Golisano the Independence party candidate? (LIKELY VOTERS)

LIKELY VOTERS
Oct 15
Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind 1998

Peter Vallone 24% 11% 43% 24% 4% 51% 19% 25%

George Pataki 57 64 41 61 88 24 55 54

Betsy McCaughey
Ross 3 2 3 2 1 5 2 4

Tom Golisano 10 16 4 6 4 9 18 9

SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 1

DK/NA 7 5 9 7 3 10 6 6

11. Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your mind before the
election?

LIKELY VOTERS

Vallone Pataki
Voters Voters

Mind made up 61% 79%

Might change mind 38 21

DK/NA 1 -

12. Would you describe your support for (candidate's name)as strongly favoring
him,or do you like him but with reservations, or do you support him because you
dislike the other candidates?

LIKELY VOTERS

Vallone Pataki
Voters Voters

Strongly favor 24% 56%

Like, but with
reservations 37 34

Dislike other
candidates 35 9

DK/NA 5 1

13. If George Pataki and Peter Vallone were the only two candidates on the
ballot,and the election for Governor were being held today, would you vote for
George Pataki or Peter Vallone?